Shrimp (and crab) Boil

 

SO much fun! No plates, no utensils, lots of napkins. :)

This is how I make it for 5-6 adult appetites.

1 packet of Zatarains shrimp boil spices

3 lemons, halved

1 extra large pot ( I mean big!)

6-8 quarts of water

9 Crab leg body halves (Dungeness or Snow or individual King legs)

2, 16 oz. bags of shrimp (21-30 count size with shells on and thawed)

8 ears of corn (fresh, raw, cut in half)

30 mini red or yellow potatoes, whole

2 pkgs. mini smoked sausages

1, 8 ounce pkg. Cremini mushrooms, whole

1 pkg. pearl onions, peeled

2 bulbs of peeled garlic cloves, whole

Condiments;

Ketchup

Mustard

Ranch dip (Uncle Dan's Southern dry packet mix is my go to!)

BBQ sauce

Cocktail sauce

1 Tbsp. slices of butter (for the corn)

Melted butter

I fill my big pot with water and put it on the stove over high heat.  Add the spice packet and lemons. When the water is boiling I add the crab legs, mini potatoes, smoked sausages, pearl onions, and garlic cloves. Cook these first ingredients until the potatoes are barely tender, about 15 minutes. Turn the heat off but leave the pot on the stove. Add the corn cobs and the shrimp. Let the pot sit for 3-4 minutes, then drain the water. 

Cover your table with a plastic table cloth and then with several layers of newspaper or brown packing paper. If you have a wooden table that is color stained, I suggest placing a towel or a cloth table runner or table cloth underneath the plastic table cloth. The heat and steam from the food can damage the surface of your wooden table stain if it gets wet.

After the water is drained from the pot, dump the cooked ingredients onto the center of the table. Condiments go right on the papered table too! (Except for the melted butter. We do put that into small ramekins for dipping.) Enjoy! Fun and messy but delicious!